From the Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, an email was sent by Ashraf Amlani, Special Assistant – Pacific and West Coast, in which it was made very clear that previously announced program cuts will not occur.
Let me reassure you that that there will be no reduction in CCG presence in inland waterways, that the dive team will remain at the Sea Island base, and that all elements of the Salmonid Enhancement Program will continue. This includes the continuation of the educational and technical contracts, the Resource Restoration Unit, and the hatchery production of steelhead and cutthroat trout.
Thank you, Minister!
From: Amlani, Ashraf
Date: Thu, Jun 15, 2017 at 10:48 AM
Subject: Changes to DFO/CCG programs
To:
Hi there
I want to start by thanking you for sharing with me and others in the Minister’s office your concerns about some changes to the services offered by the DFO/CCG. I appreciate your willingness to work with us and appreciate your patience through this frustrating time.
As you’re aware, for several years now, DFO/CCG has faced significant financial pressures that were impacting the delivery of critical services to Canadians – services that save lives, protect the marine environment, help manage our aquatic resources, contribute to our understanding of climate change, create jobs and drive sustainable economic growth.
Over the past weeks, our office has heard from Members of Parliament, Canadians and stakeholders about how much they value the services offered by CCG/DFO. Let me reassure you that that there will be no reduction in CCG presence in inland waterways, that the dive team will remain at the Sea Island base, and that all elements of the Salmonid Enhancement Program will continue. This includes the continuation of the educational and technical contracts, the Resource Restoration Unit, and the hatchery production of steelhead and cutthroat trout.
Today I am also pleased to share that our government has invested nearly $3 billion into the core operations for DFO/CCG through Budget 2016, Budget 2017, Oceans Protection Plan and following a comprehensive program review. With these investments, Canadians will soon see a noticeable difference in the services they receive from DFO/CCG. These important investments will:
* Improve the scientific evidence that decisions are based on
* Modernize aging infrastructure and IT capacity
* Renew efforts to restore habitat and rebuild depleting fish stocks
* Expand marine conservation and protection measures
* Create safer waterways for marine navigation
* Speed up response time for search and rescue missions
* Strengthen our environmental response capacity
However, these new resources will not simply replace programs that have been lost in years past. Our oceans today face new threats with climate change – with flooding, droughts and severe weather storms on every coast. Our economy depends on safe navigation through waterways and ports that are busier than ever before. Our government has new priorities pertaining to reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous People, working with municipal and provincial partners, and becoming global leaders in sustainable development. The new investments will help DFO/CCG build the programs and services that Canadians will need into the future.
With the significant new investments in DFO/CCG, we will be enhancing search and rescue services on all our coasts and working with community partners on a number of ecosystem restoration projects. We remain committed to using taxpayer dollars wisely to ensure Canadians receive services they value and trust.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to working with you as we continue to strengthen and rebuild DFO/CCG programs.
Best,
Ashraf Amlani
Special Assistant – Pacific and West Coast| Adjointe sp?ciale, bureau pacifique-ouest
Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc / Bureau de l’honorable Dominic LeBlanc
Minister of Fisheries Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard |Cabinet du ministre des P?ches, des Oc?ans et de la Garde c?ti?re canadienne
200 Kent Street | Floor 15 | Ottawa, Ontario | K1A 0E6
T: 613-992-3474
C: 613-404-1520
E: ashraf.amlani@dfo-mpo.gc.ca